Shoe and shank stiffener therefor



NOV. 24, 1936. H V I 2,061,959

SHOE AND SHANK STIFFENER THEREFOR Filed Nov. 25, 1934 173726272 02: RfidfiPiOZ'L. Chavez Patented Nov. 24, 1936 PATENT OFFIE SHOE AND SHANK STIFFENER THEREFOR Frederick L. Cheever, Hanover, Mass., assignor to Perley G. Flint, Brockton, Mass.

Application November 23, 1934, Serial No. 754,448

' 7 Claims. (01. 36--76) ing description when read in the light of the accompanying drawing of an embodiment of the invention, while the scope of the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the shoe constructedaccording to the invention, with parts insection; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; 1 Fig. 3 is a plan of the insole with the shank stiffener attached;

Fig. 4 is a plan of the two shank stiffener elements in disassembled relation; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

With prior constructions, shank stiffeners having sufficient strength to support the arch of the foot have proved so stiif that they materially destroy the flexibility of the sole in respect to bending of the foot into its natural position when the heel is lifted relative to the toe during walking, this defect being particularly noticeable in light weight shoes in which ordinarily a flexible sole is desired. The attempt to overcome this defect by using a lighter shank stiffener has resulted in a sacrifice of proper support for the arch of the foot. The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of both forms of prior constructions while retaining the advantages of each, and at the same time to secure results not secured by either form of prior construction.

Referring to the drawing, the shoe illustrated comprises an insole I to which is secured, by stitches 3, a welt 5- and uppers comprising the upper leather 1 and lining 9. To the welt is secured, by stitches H, a sole l3.

The shank stiffener illustrated comprises two similar members, preferably formed of relatively light spring steel, each of which comprises a body portion I5 having at one side thereof a longitudinal prolongation or tongue ll of less width than the body portion. These two members when in the relative positions shown by Fig. 4 may be moved laterally toward each other into the position shown by Fig. 3, whereupon each member is secured to the insole by a tack passed through a perforation IS in the member. Preferably the edge portions 2| of the members are beveled as indicated at 23 to permit the overlapping portions of the assembled members tocontact with each otherin the assembled shoe. After the shank stiffener is secured to the insole as above described, the filler 25 is applied to the insole which, together with the sole when the latter is applied, acts to hold the members of the shank stiffener in assembled relation.

It will be observed that in the assembled shoe each of the prolongations or tongues I! at one side thereof rests against the insole and at the other side thereof against the body portion l5 of the other member. The shank stiffen-er is therefore so constructed that hinging between the two members is prevented when the weight of the body is placed on the foot to force the insole and shank stiffener, throughout the extent of the shank, downwardly. On the other hand, when the heel is raised relative to the toe to lift the foot and the foot is moved forwardly to take a step, the longitudinal arch of the foot tends to bend slightly so as to assume a greater concavity at its under side, and this natural action of the foot is not prevented by the shank stiffener, because when the weight of the body is not on the foot the insole, shank and sole are not forcibly squeezed together, and, there being a slight give to the insole, particularly in a shoe that has been worn for a short time, the two members of the shank stifiener tend to hinge under the resistance of the fiexure of the tongues alone. When the weight of the body is placed on the foot to squeeze the parts together both the tongues 41 and the body portions l5 must bend to permit any flexure, hence the arch is firmly yet resiliently supported, while when the pressure is relieved, and the arch returns to normal position and then bends to its natural position during a forward step, the tongues alone flex due to the slight give of the insole and slightly bow upwardly relative to the body portions. The net result is to allow the foot to function in an active manner and to exercise and thus strengthen the muscles of the foot.

It will be understood that wide deviations may be made from the embodiment of the invention disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A shoe having interposed between the insole and sole, at the shank portion of the shoe, a shank stiffener comprising a pair of resilient elongated sheet metal members each of which is shaped to form a body portion and a connected elongated portion of greater flexibility than said body portion, said members being so positioned that said elongated portion of each member is between the body portion of the other member and the insole.

2. A shoe having interposed between the insole and sole, at the shank portion of the shoe, a shank stifiener comprising a pair of resilient elongated sheet metal members each of which is shaped to form a body portion and a connected elongated portion of greater flexibility than said body portion, said elongated portion of each member lying between the body portion of the other member and the insole and extending from the elongated portion of said other member to adjacent the opposite end of the body portion thereof and adapted to contact with that body portion.

3. A shoe having interposed between the insole and sole, at the shank portion of the shoe, a shank stiffener comprising a pair of resilient elongated sheet metal members each of which is shaped to form a body portion and a connected elongated portion of greater flexibility than said body portion, said members being so positioned that said elongated portion of each member is adapted to contact with the body portion of the other member and is between that body portion and the insole.

4. A shoe having interposed between the insole and sole, at the shank portion of the shoe, a shank stiffener comprising a pair of resilient elongated sheet metal members, each of which is shaped to form at a side thereof a tongue extending longitudinally of the member from adjacent its center portion to its end, which tongue is of greater flexibility than the remaining portion of the member, the tongue of each member lying between the remaining portion of the other member and the insole and extending from the tongue of the other member to adjacent the end of said member opposite its tongue.

5. A shoe having interposed between the irisole and sole, at the shank portion of the shoe, a shank stiflener comprising a pair of resilient elongated sheet metal members, each of which is shaped to form at a side thereof a tongue extending longitudinally of the member from adjacent its center prortion to its end, which tongue is of greater flexibility than the remaining portion of the member, the tongue of each member lying between the remaining portion of the other member and the insole and adapted to contact with said remaining portion and extending from the tongue of the other member to adjacent the end of said member opposite its tongue.

6. A shoe having interposed between the insole and sole, at the shank portion of the shoe, a shank stifiener comprising a pair of resilient elongated sheet metal members each of which is shaped to form a body portion and a connected elongated portion of greater flexibility than said body portion, the end edges of said body portions adjacent said elongated portions being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said members, said members being so positioned that said elongated portion of each member is between the body portion of the other member and the insole.

7. A shoe having interposed between the insole and sole, at the shank portion of the shoe, a shank stiffener comprising a pair of resilient elongated sheet metal members each of which is shaped to form a body portion and a connected elongated tongue at the side of said member and of greater flexibility than said body portion, the end edges of said body portions adjacent said tongues being substantially perpendicular to said tongues, said tongue of each member lying between the body portion of the other member and the insole and extending from the tongue of said other member to adjacent the opposite end of the body portion thereof and adapted to contact with that body portion.

FREDERICK L. CHEEVER. 

